On-line health education and feedback system using motivational driver profile coding and automated content fulfillment

ABSTRACT

An automated system and method provides customized health education to an individual at a remote terminal to induce a modification in a health-related behavior of the individual. The automated system includes a questionnaire generator for questioning the individual to determine his or her motivational drivers and comprehension capacity. A profile generator receives answers entered by the individual from the remote terminal and generates a motivational driver profile and a comprehension capacity profile of the individual. A translator receives clinical data relating to a current health condition of the individual and translates the clinical data, the motivational driver profile, and the comprehension capacity profile into a profile code. An educational fulfillment bank matches the profile code to matching educational materials and transfers the matched educational materials to the remote terminal. An evaluation program evaluates educational responses of the individual and provides profile updates for targeting subsequent educational material to the individual based on the educational responses.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This invention is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/301,331, filed on Dec.13, 2005, which is continuation of Ser. No. 09/540,482, filed on Mar.31, 2000, now abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/394,219,filed on Sep. 13, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,469, which is acontinuation of Ser. No. 08/814,293, filed on Mar. 10, 1997, now U.S.Pat. No. 5,951,300, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/669,613,filed on Jun. 24, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,163, which are eachincorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of on-line health education,and in particular to an automated system and method for providingcustomized health education to induce a modification in a health relatedbehavior of an individual.

BACKGROUND

The goal of most health education programs is to motivate individuals tomodify their health-related behaviors to improve their current state ofhealth or to reduce their health-related risks. In its simplest form, ahealth education program exposes an individual to information orinstructions relating to a selected health behavior. The individual thenmay modify his or her behavior to accommodate the information and adhereto the instructions. The degree to which the individual modifies his orher health-related behavior and adheres to the instructions defines theindividual's compliance to the health education program.

In a health educational program in which adherence to the instructionswould clearly benefit the health of the individual, one would expect ahigh degree of compliance. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. As anexample, health-care providers, health-care payers, and governmentagencies have launched massive media campaigns to expose nearly theentire U.S. population to health information regarding the damagingeffects of smoking cigarettes. The instructions to quit smoking and thehealth benefits obtainable by quitting are explicit. Nevertheless, adisappointingly small percentage of the target population responds tothe anti-smoking campaign by attempting to quit smoking.

One such anti-smoking campaign involves mailing a multiple page pamphletto every household within a geographical region. The pamphlet is writtenin English and gives a detailed description of five medical conditionsresulting from smoking: Emphysema, Pulmonary Carcinoma, Atherosclerosis,and Cerebral Hemorrhage. The pamphlet also informs the reader that byquitting smoking, he or she will experience a sixty percent reduction inthe risk of contracting any of these ailments, a reduction thattranslates into a significant gain in life expectancy.

Although this mass mailing method of health education sets forthexplicit instructions and states compelling health reasons to follow theinstructions, it has several disadvantages that prevent it fromsucceeding. First, the method fails to consider the comprehensioncapacity of the pamphlet's audience. For example, because the pamphletis written in English, it may exclude roughly twenty-five percent of thepopulation in the selected geographical region who read only Spanish.

Further, the pamphlet describes the consequences of smoking usingmedical terminology like Emphysema, Pulmonary Carcinoma, etc.Twenty-five percent of the population in the selected region without ahigh school degree might prefer plain language, such as Stiff Lungs,Lung Cancer, Hardened Blood Vessels, and Stroke. The pamphlet quicklyloses the attention of these recipients as well. As a result of itsfailure to consider the comprehension capacity of each individualrecipient, the mass mailing method loses roughly half of the targetpopulation it intends to educate due to standardized language,standardized delivery, and standardized media.

The mass mailing method of health education has a second disadvantage infailing to consider the evaluation and judgment of each individualreceiving a pamphlet. Upon receiving the pamphlet, each individual willimmediately decide if the topic discussed is relevant to his or hersituation. Because the pamphlet is mailed to all households within aregion, money is wasted by mailing the pamphlet to disinterestednon-smokers. Additionally, the opening and reading of the anti-smokingpamphlet is tedious for the non-smokers. As a result, they might noteven bother to open and read a subsequent pamphlet addressing a healthtopic relevant to their health condition.

A third disadvantage of the mass mailing method is its inability totarget specific motivating factors for behavior modification to eachindividual receiving a pamphlet. For example, the pamphlet addresseslongevity of life associated with quitting smoking, but many individualsreceiving the pamphlet may value the present far more than the future.Because the pamphlet does not address present day issues, such ascoughing at night while trying to sleep or spending fifteen hundreddollars per year on cigarettes, the individual living for the presentwill not be motivated to quit smoking. Each individual has his or herown motivational drivers for inducing behavior modification that cannotbe specifically targeted in a standardized pamphlet.

A fourth disadvantage of the mass mailing method of health education isits inability to provide feedback and continued motivation to eachindividual recipient. Even if one individual did actually quit smokingas a result of reading the pamphlet, the individual would receive nospecialized follow-up education for coping with nicotine withdrawal,weight gain, or other consequences of this behavioral change. Of course,mass mailing is just one example of a standardized broadcast mediatechnique. The same disadvantages as those described for mass mailingshold for other broadcast media methods of health education.

A completely customized educational solution for modifying healthrelated behaviors can be accomplished using a private or semi-privateeducational environment. Within such an environment, it is possible topsychologically analyze each individual to identify his or her specificmotivational drivers for making health-related decisions or modifyinghealth-related behavior. The disadvantage of this private method is thatit is too expensive and time consuming for a large percentage of thepopulation to afford. As a result, it excludes this large percentage ofthe population who could significantly benefit from customized healtheducation.

Due to the disadvantages of private analysis and education, attemptshave been made to implement computer-automated health education systemsthat are available to the general public. For example, U.S. Pat. No.4,464,122 issued to Fuller et al. on Aug. 7, 1984 discloses a healthpotential summary and incentive system. The system reads and scores theanswers to a printed questionnaire completed by an individual. Thequestionnaire includes questions to determine the individual'sdemographics, alcohol and tobacco usage, stress factors, exerciseroutines, and daily nutrition. Based on the individual's scored answers,the system prints a summary analysis of the individual's healthcondition in several health categories, as well as recommendations forimprovement in each category.

A similar system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,819 issued to Deweyet al. on Jan. 28, 1992. Dewey describes an expert data collection,analysis, and response system for reading and scoring a questionnaireform completed by an individual. The questionnaire includes questions todetermine the individual's current health condition, such as his or herblood pressure, as well as the individual's alcohol and tobacco usage.The system prints for the individual specific recommendations based onthe scored answers.

The systems described by Fuller and Dewey have many of the samedisadvantages as those described for the mass mailing method of healtheducation and behavior modification. First, they only determine from aquestionnaire what an individual's health-related behavior is. They failto determine the specific motivational drivers each individual may havefor changing the health related behavior. As a result, they give eachindividual very little personal incentive to make a significantbehavioral change. Second, these systems described by Dewey and Fullerdo not customize their printed summaries to conform to a specificcomprehension capacity or media selection of the individual user.Consequently, they may exclude portions of the population who cannotfully understand or appreciate the printed recommendations. Third, thesesystems have no mechanism for continued feedback and support, so thateven if an individual did temporarily comply with the recommendations,the individual would soon lose motivation to continue with his or herchange in behavior.

A system that attempts to overcome the problems associated with lack ofcontinued motivational support is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,580issued to Strecher on May 4, 1993. Strecher discloses a tailoredhealth-related behavioral change and adherence system. In this system,an individual's answers to health-related questions are used to selectinstructional and motivational statements for changing a behavior of theindividual. The instructional and motivational statements are thenplaced on dated pages, such as those of a calendar, corresponding todates before, during, and after a selected change date for thehealth-related behavior.

Although this calendar system described by Strecher does providecontinued support to an individual attempting to modify his or herbehavior, the continued support is not based on any performance feedbackfrom the individual. Because the calendar is printed in advance on thebasis of one questionnaire, the system has no mechanism for adjustingthe educational and motivational material supplied to the individual independence upon new data relating to the individual's mental andphysical health condition. Further, the Strecher system has no mechanismfor tailoring the educational and motivational instructions to thespecific comprehension capacity and preferred media of the individualuser.

Another system for providing positive motivational statements to anindividual to effect a behavioral change is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,377,258 issued to Bro on Dec. 27, 1994. Bro describes an automated andinteractive system that allows a doctor or trainer to produce and send aseries of motivational messages and instructions to a client to motivateor reinforce a change in a specific behavioral problem.

The system includes a client database for storing for each client aname, a calling schedule, and a personal identification number. Thesystem further includes a client program that contains for each clientmotivational messages and questions for the client to answer. The systemoptionally includes an electronic weight scale, olfactory unit, or voicestress analyzer to collect additional data from the client. The clientdatabase and client program are operated by a computer that atpreselected times sends the motivational messages or questions to theclients dual tone multifrequency telephone after the client hassuccessfully transmitted to the computer a valid personal identificationnumber.

Although this system disclosed by Bro does provide continued feedbackand motivational support to an individual, it suffers from two of thesame disadvantages described earlier for the Fuller and Dewey systems.First, Bro does not teach the profiling of an individual to determinehis or her specific motivational drivers for changing a health-relatedbehavior. Consequently, the motivational support provided by the systemmay be ineffective for many of the individual clients. Secondly, thesystem has no mechanism for tailoring the motivational messages to thespecific comprehension capacity and preferred media of an individualclient. The system is only designed to play motivational messages orcollect answers to questions using a telephone.

Thus, none of the prior automated systems for providing health educationto the general public effectively customize the educational material tocorrespond to the specific motivational drivers of each individual user.Further, none of the prior automated systems have a mechanism forcustomizing the educational material to conform to the comprehensioncapacity and preferred media of the individual user. Additionally,several of the systems lack any feedback mechanism for receivingevaluation data regarding the individual's performance in modifying hisor her behavior and for providing the individual continued customizedsupport for the behavioral change.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention toprovide an automated system and method for customized health educationthat successfully induces a modification in a health-related behavior ofan individual. It is another object of the invention to provide anautomated system and method for health education that targetseducational material to the specific motivational drivers, comprehensioncapacity, and preferred media of the individual. A further object of theinvention is to provide a system and method for health education thatallows adjustment of the educational material based on the individual'sperformance in modifying his or her behavior.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent afterconsideration of the ensuing description and the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention presents an automated system and method for providingcustomized health education to an individual at a remote terminal toinduce a modification in a health-related behavior of the individual.The automated system is connected to the remote terminal via acommunication network, such as a public communication network. Thesystem includes a questionnaire generator for generating an interviewform and for transferring the interview form through the communicationnetwork to the remote terminal. The interview form contains questionsfor determining a motivational driver, a comprehension capacity, and apreferred media of the individual.

The system also includes a profile generator for receiving through thecommunication network questionnaire answers entered by the individualfrom the remote terminal and for generating from the questionnaireanswers a motivational driver profile, a comprehension capacity profile,and a media selection profile of the individual. A translator isconnected to the profile generator and the communication network forreceiving through the communication network clinical data relating to acurrent health condition of the individual and for translating theclinical data, the motivational driver profile, the comprehensioncapacity profile, and the media selection profile into a profile code ofthe individual.

An educational fulfillment bank is connected to the translator and thecommunication network. The educational fulfillment bank is for storingpieces of education material for inducing the modification of thehealth-related behavior, each piece of educational material having anindex code, and for transferring through the communication network tothe remote terminal at least one piece of educational material having anindex code matching the profile code of the individual.

In the preferred embodiment, the system also includes an evaluationprogram connected to the profile generator for evaluating educationalresponses of the individual to the educational material and forproviding profile updates derived from the educational responses. Inthis manner, the progress of the individual attempting to modify his orher behavior is continuously monitored, and the system adjusts thetargeting of the educational material based on the individual'sperformance in modifying his or her behavior.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the main components ofan automated education system and its connections to an individual at aremote terminal according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the generation of aninterview form according to the method of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an interview form appearing on the screenof the remote terminal of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the confirmation ofgenerated profiles according to the method of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the creation of aprofile code and the transferring of educational materials matching theprofile code according to the method of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the adjustment ofindividual profiles according to the method of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating steps included in the method of theinvention.

FIG. 8 is a continuation of the flow chart of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-8.Referring to FIG. 1, an automated education system 10 includes a profilecomputer 12 having a questionnaire generator 14, a profile generator 16,a translator 18, and a profile database 20. Profile computer 12 isconnected to an educational fulfillment bank 22 having an educationalmaterial database 24. Educational material database 24 is for storingpieces of educational material for inducing a modification in ahealth-related behavior of an individual. Profile computer 12 andeducational fulfillment bank 22 are networked to a modem Ml forconnecting profile computer 12 and educational fulfillment bank 22 to acommunication network 26.

An individual 36 desiring access to system 10 is located at remoteterminal 38. Remote terminal 38 is connected to communication network 26through a modem M2 such that remote terminal 38 accesses system 10 forinteractive education sessions through modem M2 and communicationnetwork 26. For simplicity, only one remote terminal 38 is illustratedin FIG. 1. It is obvious that many more remote terminals can beconnected to communication network 26 for accessing system 10.

A monitoring device 40 for monitoring a health condition of individual36 is connected to remote terminal 38. Monitoring device 40 is capableof producing measurements of a physical characteristic of the healthcondition and of uploading the measurements to remote terminal 38 fortransmission to system 10. In one possible embodiment, individual 36 isa diabetic and monitoring device 40 is a blood glucose meter formeasuring blood glucose levels of individual 36. In another embodiment,individual 36 is asthmatic and monitoring device 40 is a peak flow meterfor measuring the individual's peak flow levels. Specific techniques forconnecting a monitoring device to a remote terminal for remotemonitoring of an individual's health condition are well known in theart.

Communication network 26 further connects a health-care provider 28 ofindividual 36 to profile computer 12. Provider 28 has a medical recorddatabase 30 for storing electronic medical records of individual 36.Medical record database 30 is connected to communication network 26through a modem M3 such that profile computer 12 receives throughnetwork 26 the stored electronic medical records from database 30.Similarly, communication network 26 connects a managed care organization32 of individual 36 to profile computer 12. Organization 32 has amedical claims database 34 for storing medical claims data of individual36. Medical claims database 34 is connected to communication network 26through a modem M4 such that profile computer 12 receives throughnetwork 26 the stored medical claims data from database 34.

Communication network 26 also connects education fulfillment bank 22 toan external educational source 31 having an additional educationalmaterial database 33. Database 33 is for storing additional educationalmaterials for inducing a modification in the behavior of individual 36.Database 33 is connected to communication network 26 through a modem M5such that educational fulfillment bank 22 may transfer additionaleducational materials from database 33 to remote terminal 38 throughnetwork 26.

In the preferred embodiment, communication network 26 is a publiccommunication network, such as the Internet or public telephone network,and system 10, remote terminal 36, health-care provider 28, managed careorganization 32, and external source 31 connect to the publiccommunication network through the use of modems, as illustrated inFIG. 1. Of course, many other types of communication networks andconnections to the communication networks may be employed withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. Specific techniques fornetworking computer systems for on-line interaction are well known inthe art.

Referring to FIG. 2, questionnaire generator 14 is capable of generatingan interactive interview form 46 and of transferring interview form 46through communication network 26 to the screen of remote terminal 38. Inthe preferred embodiment, questionnaire generator 14 also includes aregistration program for generating a registration form 42 and fortransferring registration form 42 through communication network 26 toremote terminal 38. Registration form 42 includes data fields for a name50, a language 51, and a current health condition 52 of individual 36.Profile database 20 has storage capability for storing a registrationrecord 48 that includes name 50, language 51, and current healthcondition 52 of individual 36.

In a typical implementation, questionnaire generator 14 stores hundredsof questions in various languages relating to possible health conditionsof individual 36, such as asthma, diabetes, nicotine addiction, etc. Tonarrow the focus of interview form 46, questionnaire generator 14further includes an interview form tailoring algorithm 44 for tailoringinterview form 46 in dependence upon language 51 and current healthcondition 52 of individual 36. For example, in FIG. 2, individual 36 hasindicated his language as “ENGLISH” and current health condition as“SMOKER” so that tailoring algorithm 44 tailors interview form 46 tocontain English language questions pertaining to smoking and smokingrelated behaviors of individual 36.

Interview form 46 is illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 3. Interviewform 46 contains a first category of questions 54 relating to thecurrent health condition of individual 36. Category 54 is divided into afirst subset of questions 56 for determining current diseases orsymptoms of individual 36 and a second subset of questions 58 fordetermining the pattern and history data of the individual's healthcondition. In the example of the preferred embodiment in whichindividual 36 is a smoker, subset 56 asks about any current diseases orsymptoms smoking has caused in individual 36. Similarly, subset 58 asksfor the pattern and history data of the individual's smoking habit.

Interview form 46 further includes a second category of questions 60 fordetermining a motivational driver of individual 36. Category 60 isdivided into six subsets of questions 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, and 72 fordetermining a value placed by individual 36 on various motivatingfactors for modifying his or her behavior. Subset 62 is for determiningthe value placed by individual 36 on longevity. For example, ifindividual 36 is a smoker, subset 62 includes questions to determine ifthe prospect of living a long life would provide sufficient motivationto quit smoking.

Subset 64 is for determining the value placed by individual 36 on thequality of his or her life. In the smoking example, subset 64 includesquestions to determine if an improvement in smoking symptoms, such as nolonger suffering coughing fits, would provide sufficient motivation toquit smoking. Subset 66 is for determining the value placed byindividual 36 on family life. In the smoking example, subset 66 includesquestions to determine if an improvement in family life, such as nolonger harming relatives with second hand smoke, would providesufficient motivation to stop smoking. Subset 68 is for determining thevalue placed by individual 36 on social acceptability. In the smokingexample, subset 68 includes questions to determine if an improvement insocial acceptability, such as no longer offending people with badbreath, would provide sufficient motivation to quit smoking.

Subset 70 is for determining the value placed by individual 36 on socialresponsibility. In the smoking example, subset 70 includes questions todetermine if an improvement in social responsibility, such as notburdening society with the cost of Emphysema treatment, would positivelymotivate individual 36 to quit smoking. Subset 72 is for determining thevalue placed by individual 36 on economy. In the smoking example, subset72 includes questions to determine if the cost savings associated withno longer purchasing cigarettes would provide sufficient motivation toquit smoking.

Interview form 46 also includes a third category of questions 74 fordetermining a comprehension capacity of individual 36. Category 74 isdivided into four subsets of questions 76, 78, 80, and 82 fordetermining various comprehension capacity factors. Subset 76 is fordetermining an age of individual 76 and subset 78 is for determininglanguage skills of individual 36. Similarly, subset 80 is fordetermining reading habits of individual 76 and subset 82 is fordetermining an educational background of individual 36.

A fourth category of questions 84 is for determining a media preferenceof individual 84. Category 84 is divided into three subsets of questions86, 88, and 90 for determining if individual 36 prefers pictures, text,or video games, respectively. Of course, these types of media are justexamples of possible media choices. Interview form 46 and educationalfulfillment bank 22 may offer other media choices in alternativeembodiments, such as computer videos, musical lyrics, or hyper-textlinks.

Referring to FIG. 4, profile generator 16 is designed to generate amotivational driver profile 94, a comprehension capacity profile 96, anda media selection profile 98 from the questionnaire answers, as will beexplained in the operation section below. Profile generator 16 furtherincludes a confirmation program for sending a confirmation form 110 toremote terminal 38. Confirmation form 110 includes a summary of eachgenerated profile 94, 96, and 98 so that individual 36 may confirm eachof the generated profiles. Profile database 20 is designed to store aprofile record 100 of individual 36 that includes his or her name,current health condition, and confirmed profiles.

Referring to FIG. 5, translator 18 is designed to translate clinicaldata received through network 26 and profiles 94, 96, and 98 receivedfrom profile generator 16 into a profile code 114, as will be explainedin the operation section below. Profile code 114 is for targetingspecific educational material to individual 36 based on each profile 94,96, and 98 as well as the individual's clinical data. In the preferredembodiment, the clinical data includes medical claims data 102 receivedfrom claims database 34, electronic medical records 104 received frommedical record database 30, and device measurements 106 received frommonitoring device 40.

Educational fulfillment bank 22 includes a matching program 116 formatching profile code 114 to an index code 118 of a piece of educationalmaterial 120. In a typical implementation, educational material database24 stores thousands of pieces of educational material, each having anindex code, and matching program 116 is a database query program forretrieving from database 24 each piece of educational material having anindex code that matches profile code 114. Of course, the pieces ofeducational material stored in database 24 are index coded such thateach matched piece has an educational content specifically targeted toindividual 36 based on his or her profile code 114. Matching program 116is also capable of determining if additional educational materialsappropriate for profile code 114 should be transferred to terminal 38from additional educational material database 33.

In the example of the preferred embodiment, in which individual 36 isasked on interview form 46 if he or she prefers text, pictures, or videogames, piece of educational material 120 will be a text document, seriesof graphical pictures, or educational video game depending on the mediaselected by individual 36. Of course, other types of media selections,including mixed media selections, are possible in alternativeembodiments.

Referring to FIG. 6, piece of educational material 120 is designed toallow educational interaction between individual 36 and system 10. Forexample, if the selected educational material is a text document orseries of pictures, the text or pictures also include questions orprompts requiring educational responses 124 from individual 36. If theselected educational material is an educational video game, individual36 provides educational responses 124 by playing the educational videogame on terminal 38.

Profile computer 12 includes an educational performance evaluator 122for interactively monitoring educational responses 124. Evaluator 122includes an evaluation algorithm 126 for evaluating educationalresponses 124 and for generating profile updates 128 derived fromeducational responses 124. Evaluator 122 is connected to profilegenerator 16 such that generator 16 receives profile updates 128 andadjust profiles 94, 96, and 98 in accordance with profile updates 128.

The operation of the preferred embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 7-8.FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a preferred method by which system 10provides customized health education to individual 36 to induce amodification in a health-related behavior of individual 36. In step 200,the pieces of educational material for inducing the behaviormodification of individual 36 are stored in educational materialdatabase 24. Each piece of educational material is stored with an indexcode for designating its educational content.

In step 202, individual 36 is registered in profile computer 12.Referring to FIG. 2, individual 36 accesses profile computer 12 throughremote terminal 38 and network 26. Next, questionnaire generator 14transfers registration form 42 to remote terminal 38. Individual 36enters his or her name 50, language 51, and current health condition 52into the appropriate fields in registration form 42 and transfers thecompleted form 42 to profile computer 12. Profile computer 12 storesname 50, language 51, and current health condition 52 as registrationrecord 48 in profile database 20.

Next, in step 204, interview form tailoring algorithm 44 tailorsinterview form 46 in dependence upon language 51 and current healthcondition 52. For example, in FIG. 2, individual 36 has indicated thathe is a smoker who reads English, so that algorithm 44 tailors interviewform 46 to include questions written in English relating to a smokinghabit. After tailoring interview form 46, questionnaire generator 14transfers form 46 through network 26 to remote terminal 38, step 206.

Upon receiving interview form 46, individual 36 enters in remoteterminal 38 answers to each question and transfers the answers throughcommunication network 26 to profile computer 12. Profile computer 12receives the answers, step 208, and profile generator 16 generates fromthe received answers motivational driver profile 94, comprehensioncapacity profile 96, and media selection profile 98, step 210.

To generate motivational driver profile 94, profile generator 16examines the answers to each question in category 60 of interview form46, as shown in FIG. 3. For each of the six subsets of questions 62, 64,66, 68, 70, and 72, profile generator 16 scores the answers given byindividual 36 and adds the individual scores into a total scoreexpressing the value placed by individual 36 on each motivating factorfor modifying his or her behavior.

For example, in one possible embodiment, the total score for eachmotivating factor is constrained to be a number between 1 and 10 with 10indicating the highest value placed on the motivating factor and 1indicating the lowest value placed on the motivating factor. In thisembodiment, profile generator 16 scores the answers received for each ofthe six subsets of questions in category 60 and calculates six numbersbetween 1 and 10 that numerically indicate the value placed byindividual 36 on longevity, quality of life, family life, socialacceptability, social responsibility, and economy. Of course, otherscoring methods are possible in alternative embodiments. Specifictechniques for scoring questionnaires in this manner are well known inthe art.

Similarly, profile generator 16 calculates numeric values from theanswers received for category 74, comprehension capacity questions, andcategory 84, media preference questions, to create comprehensioncapacity profile 96 and media selection profile 98, respectively.Profiles 94, 96, and 98 are then transferred to individual 36 at remoteterminal 38 in confirmation form 110, as shown in FIG. 4. Individual 36accepts or rejects each of profiles 94, 96, and 98 and transfers thecompleted confirmation form 110 to profile computer 12 such that form110 is received by profile generator 16. Profile generator 16 readscompleted confirmation form 110 to determine if each of profiles 94, 96,and 98 have been confirmed by individual 36, decision step 212.

If each of profiles 94, 96, and 98 are confirmed, they are then storedin profile record 100 of profile database 20, step 214. If any ofprofiles 94, 96, and 98 are rejected, system 10 returns to step 204,tailoring interview form 46 to repeat the interviewing process describedabove. Of course, if not all the profiles were rejected, profilegenerator 16 will only transfer the categories of interview form 46relevant to the rejected profiles.

Next, in step 216, translator 18 receives through network 26 clinicaldata relating to health condition 52 of individual 36. To receivemedical claims data 102, translator 18 accesses medical claims database34 through network 26 and queries database 34 with name 50 of individual36. Similarly, to receive electronic medical records 104, translator 18accesses medical records database 30 through network 26 and queriesdatabase 30 with name 50 of individual 36. Device measurements 106 aretransferred from monitoring device 40 to terminal 38 and through network26 so that they are received by translator 18. This completes the finalstep shown in FIG. 7. The flow chart of FIG. 7 continues in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 8, individual 36 next starts an interactive, on-lineeducation session with system 10, step 218. At the start of the session,translator 18 translates the received clinical data and profiles 94, 96,and 98 into profile code 114 of individual 36, step 220. To produceprofile code 114, translator 18 first processes the received clinicaldata to determine the current clinical status of individual 36. Forexample, if individual 36 is a diabetic and monitoring device 40 is ablood glucose meter, then device measurements 106 will indicate thecurrent blood glucose levels of individual 36 and medical claims data102 and medical records 104 will indicate in which specific aspects ofdiabetes related behavior individual 36 needs improvement. Translator 18narrows the selection of profile code 114 to those profile codescorresponding to the determined clinical status of individual 36.

Next translator 18 determines which one of the profile codescorresponding to the determined clinical status of individual 36 bestmatches his or her motivational drivers, comprehension capacity, andpreferred media as recorded in profiles 94, 96, and 98, respectively.Once translator 18 selects the best match, profile code 114 is stored inprofile database 20 and sent to educational fulfillment bank 22.

Matching program 116 then matches profile code 114 to index code 118 ofpiece of educational material 120, step 222. Matching program 116further determines if educational fulfillment bank 22 requires externalsource 31 for additional educational material relevant to profile code114, decision step 224. If matching program 116 determines thatadditional educational material is required, educational fulfillmentbank 22 accesses external source 31, step 226, and transfers theadditional educational material from source 31 to terminal 38. Ifmatching program 116 determines that additional educational material isnot required, educational fulfillment bank 22 proceeds directly to step228, transferring educational material 120 through network 26 to remoteterminal 38.

Upon receiving educational material 120 at remote terminal 38,individual 36 begins an interactive learning process monitored byeducational performance evaluator 122. As shown in FIG. 6, individual 36is prompted to enter in terminal 38 educational responses 124 toeducational material 120. For example, if individual 36 indicated ininterview form 46 that he or she prefers educational video games,educational material 120 will be an educational video game requiringindividual 36 to enter responses 124. In another example, individual 36may prefer text documents, so that educational material 120 is aninteractive text document with prompts individual 36 to provideeducational responses 124.

Educational performance evaluator 122 receives educational responses 124through network 26. Evaluation algorithm 126 then evaluates educationalresponses 124 to determine an educational performance of individual 36,step 230.

Evaluation algorithm further generates profile updates 128 derived fromeducational responses 124. For example, if educational responses 124indicate that individual 36 does not understand educational material120, profile updates 128 will be updates amending comprehension capacityprofile 96. Profile generator 16 receives profile updates 128 fromevaluator 122 and adjusts profiles 94, 96, and 98 in accordance withprofile updates 128, step 232.

Next, system 10 determines if individual 36 has requested an end to theinteractive educational session, decision step 234. If individual 36 hasnot requested an end, system 10 returns to step 220, generating profilecode 114 based on adjusted profiles 94, 96, and 98. If individual 36does request an end to the session, adjusted profiles 94, 96, and 98 arestored in profile database 20 for a subsequent educational session andthe current session ends, step 236.

Before the start of the subsequent education session, translator 18receives updated clinical data through network 26 to determine ifindividual 36 has made an improvement in his or her health-relatedbehavior. Based on the updated clinical data and adjusted profiles 94,96, and 98, translator 18 generates a new profile code for targetingeducational material to individual 36. In this manner, system 10provides on-going adjustment to the educational material targeted toindividual 36 based on the individual's performance in modifying his orher behavior.

SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Although the above description contains many specificities, these shouldnot be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention but merelyas illustrations of the presently preferred embodiment. Many otherembodiments of the invention are possible.

For example, the questionnaire generator, profile generator, translator,and profile database need not be centrally located on one profilecomputer. In an alternative embodiment, the questionnaire generator,profile generator, translator, and profile database may be located onseparate computers that are networked together. Further, the educationalfulfillment bank need not be located at the same site and share the samenetwork connection with the profile computer. The system and methodwould be equally effective if the educational fulfillment bank werenetworked to the profile computer through the communication network.

Further, the system and method described in the preferred embodimentfocus on an individual who is a smoker or a diabetic. These healthconditions are for illustrative purposes only. The system and method ofthe invention are equally effective for customizing health education toinduce behavior modification in individuals suffering from asthma, highblood pressure, alcohol or drug abuse, or any other health-relatedcondition.

Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined, not byexamples given, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

1. A system for providing automatically customized content, said system comprising: a server configured to provide a first content from a first source to be sent over at least one communication network, wherein said first content is selected based on a profile code; a translator configured to generate said profile code based on a profile; a profile generator configured to generate said profile based on information about an individual; and a terminal configured to receive said first content from said server.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system is configured to provide customized content to said individual based on said profile.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal is further configured to display said first content to said individual.
 4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a second source configured to present a second content to be sent over the at least one communication network in response to a request from said server.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said server, said translator and said profile generator are part of a single computer system.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal is remotely situated from said server, said translator and said profile generator.
 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first content comprises educational content.
 8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said educational content comprises health-related information.
 9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a questionnaire generator configured to generate an interview form, wherein said information about said individual comprises responses to said interview form from said individual.
 10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a questionnaire generator configured to generate an interview form, wherein said information about said individual is collected based upon responses to said interview form from said individual.
 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information about said individual is collected from one or more sources selected from the group consisting of (i) registration information, (ii) responses from said individual, (iii) medical records, (iv) healthcare providers, (v) medical claims and (vi) monitoring devices.
 12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said server is further configured to customize said first content for said individual based on said profile code.
 13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said profile generator is further configured to update said profile based on one or more types of information selected from the group consisting of (i) information gathered from evaluation of individual responses and (ii) information gathered from an interview form.
 14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said translator is further configured to update said profile code based on information gathered by a monitoring device.
 15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one communication network comprises a computer network.
 16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one communication network comprises a telephone network.
 17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said translator is further configured to generate said profile code taking into account one or more types of information selected from the group consisting of clinical data, medical claims data and medical records data.
 18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said clinical data comprises measurements from a monitoring device.
 19. A system for preparing user profiles, said system comprising: a profile generator configured to generate a profile of an individual based on information about said individual; and a computer readable storage medium containing a profile database configured to store said profile of said individual.
 20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said profile of said individual comprises one or more types of profiles selected from the group consisting of a motivational driver profile, a comprehension capacity profile, and a media selection profile.
 21. The system according to claim 19, wherein said profile database is further configured to store a registration record of said individual.
 22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said registration record comprises one or more types of information selected from the group consisting of name, language, and health condition.
 23. The system according to claim 19, further comprising a questionnaire generator configured to generate an interview form comprising a plurality of questions related to said information about said individual.
 24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said plurality of questions comprise one or more categories selected from the group consisting of (i) questions relating to a current health condition of said individual, (ii) questions relating to determining a motivation driver of said individual, (iii) questions relating to determining a comprehension capacity of said individual and (iv) questions related to determining a media preference of said individual.
 25. The system according to claim 23, wherein said plurality of questions comprise one or more subsets of questions selected from the group consisting of (i) questions related to determining a current disease of the individual, (ii) questions related to determining symptoms of the individual, (iii) questions related to determining a value placed by the individual on various motivating factors, (iv) questions related to determining a value placed on longevity, (v) questions related to determining a value placed on quality of life, (vii) questions related to determining a value placed on family life, (viii) questions related to determining a value placed on social acceptability, (ix) questions related to determining a value placed on social responsibility, (x) questions related to determining an age of the individual, (xi) questions related to determining language skills of the individual, (xii) questions related to determining reading habits of the individual, (xiii) questions related to determining an educational background of the individual.
 26. The system according to claim 19, further comprising a translator configured to translate said profile received from said profile generator and clinical data into a profile code.
 27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said clinical data is received through at least one communication network.
 28. The system according to claim 26, wherein said clinical data comprises one or more types of data selected from the group consisting of medical claim data, electronic medical records and device measurements.
 29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said clinical data comprises data received from one or more sources of data selected from the group consisting of a medical claims database, a medical records database and a monitoring device.
 30. A system for updating use profiles, said system comprising: a profile generator configured to (i) generate one or more profiles of an individual based on information about said individual and (ii) update said one or more profiles based on said information about said individual; a computer readable storage medium containing a profile database configured to store said one or more profiles of said individual.
 31. The system according to claim 30, wherein said profile generator is further configured to generate a confirmation form comprising a summary of each of said one or more profiles generated.
 32. The system according to claim 30, wherein said profile generator is further configured to confirm each of said one or more profiles generated based on response to said confirmation form received from said individual.
 33. The system according to claim 30, further comprising a translator configured to update said one or more profiles based on clinical data.
 34. The system according to claim 33, wherein said clinical data is received through at least one communication network.
 35. The system according to claim 34, wherein said clinical data comprises one or more types of data selected from the group consisting of medical claim data, electronic medical records and device measurements.
 36. The system according to claim 34, wherein said clinical data comprises data received from one or more sources of data selected from the group consisting of a medical claims database, a medical records database and a monitoring device.
 37. The system according to claim 30, further comprising a performance evaluator configured to evaluate responses from said individual.
 38. The system according to claim 37, wherein said performance evaluator is further configured to generate profile updates based on the evaluation of said responses from said individual.
 39. The system according to claim 38, wherein said profile generator is further configured to adjust said one or more profiles based on said profile updates received from said performance evaluator.
 40. The system according to claim 39, wherein said responses from said individual are generated in response to customized content presented to said individual based on said one or more profiles of said individual. 